Banner Health Foundation Awards $4.5 Million to 14 Programs Statewide

The Banner Health Foundation has awarded a total of $4.5 million to 14 programs and services across Banner Health’s medical centers in Arizona.

The funds are awarded through the company’s annual Highest and Best Use Awards program, an internal program that invites Banner leadership to submit funding proposals for a range of programs and services that enhance patient care and expand services. Since inception in 2007, more than $37 million has been awarded through the program.

“The Board members, in partnership with Banner’s 45,000 Arizona employees, are excited and pleased to be able to invest in making health care easier and life better for everyone in Arizona through these initiatives,” said Steve Moak, who will assume the Foundation board chairmanship in January.

The programs and initiatives that are receiving grant funds include:

$900,000 will support the Suspected Child Abuse & Neglect (SCAN) program in the Valley and expand it to Tucson.

$600,000 will support operation of the Banner Children’s Community Clinics, serving some 3,000 uninsured and underinsured pediatric patients each year with free primary care services via a mobile clinic and office locations in Mesa and Tolleson.

$256,000 will support the Dementia Care Partners pilot program for those caring for people with dementia.

$450,000 will provide early funding to develop the Center for Clinical Outcomes Research Analytics, or CORA, within Banner Health.

$405,000 will support a pilot program at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix known as the Legerity Program, designed to prompt weight reduction in a health-positive, non-stigmatizing, affirming manner as a primary means to prevent progression of related diseases.

$250,000 will support two Arizona clinics at Diamond Children’s Medical Center in Tucson and Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa, specializing in Children’s Postinfectious Autoimmune Encephalopathy, or CPAE, a family of often misdiagnosed, acute-onset neuropsychiatric disorders affecting 25,000 to 40,000 Arizona children.

$144,000 will reconfigure space at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center to provide care for approximately 90 pediatric and adolescent behavioral health patients presenting each month in its Emergency Department.

$1 million will support four separate mind-body wellness and resiliency programs across Banner, each designed to enhance the health and well-being of care providers.

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Frontdoors Media celebrates the people and groups who give generously and work to build the future of our community. It’s the premier source of information – and inspiration – for those who strive to make the Valley of the Sun a better place to live.